Anyone Successfully Go from Floor Standers to Bookshelf Monitors w/ Subs?

Dear @artemus_5 : Normally you don’t need to worry about the monitors can fulfill your room because will does it even more than enough.

You have rigth now a " big " true problem with your Sonata speakers. Yes I know that you like it but this " you like it " just does not helps to disappears the problem.

Problem name is IMD ( InterModulationDistortion. ) high levels ( that you are accustom to. ) and THD too and the problem comes because the manufacturer designer choosed as crossover frequency 1.5khz and this means that that driver/woofer handled frequencies as low as 25hz all the way over 1.5khz.

We don’t add a paiir of self powered true subwoofers to achieve lower bass levels, this is an advantage to integrates subs but the main issue is to lower the IMD/THD of your room/system and this always will has a rewards because you will listening better quality performance levels with a lot lower distortion levels.

Here you can read the why of my take about:


https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/do-you-think-you-need-a-subwoofer/post?postid=310058#310058


You can do it with your today Sonatas crossing two a pair of TRUE self powered subwoofers that today normally comes with an integrated software and microphone to make the rigth system integration.

Or you can do it two with these excellent monitors:

http://www.silverlineaudio.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Item...

That’s why I posted to the gentleman that asked for the Wilson Alexx V one alternative with monitors/subs that with any single doubt will outperforms any full range passive speakers.
Unfortunatelly the overall knowledge levels on the specific issue is lower than what we think and not even " professionals " reviewers as M.fremer has it when for years is using full range Wilson speakers. Yes he is wrong when does it and the overall full range speaker owners could achieve good rewards if just think/learn how to outperforms what they have rigth know with a really small investment on monitors/subs alternative. That gentleman on the Wilson V instead to ask for a better alternative just wants to follows behind what he is accustom too even if it’s not the best path for him.

High Quality room/system levels is not about just money but mainly about knowledge levels.


Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

The short answer is yes. The helpful answer is probably much more complex.

If you want to use a monitor you will want to design the system so the subs do the heavy lifting. IOW the higher the crossover point the better. 

Your concern about a 6.5” woofer being able fill that large of space is legit. Speaker makers can design a very small box and cone to cycle quite low but I have yet to hear one do it at realistic volume levels.

In my opinion, depending on what types of music you listen to and how loud you listen to them, I would cross the subs at no lower than 80 Hz and preferably closer to 120 Hz and if you really like it loud probably higher than that.

Dear @audiorusty @artemus_5  : I forgot that crossover frequency that's so critical and my take is to have the frequency crossover around 80hz-100hz.
In this way the monitors or today speakers will run/handled frequencies from 80hz-100hz and all the way up to its hig frequency limit.

R..

Spendor or ProAc mini monitors with a couple of 10–12” servo-controlled Velodyne subwoofers should work a treat. 

I went from Salk Song3's (standard version w/bamboo midrange) to a pair of Clearwave Duet 6 monitors and a pair of REL T5i subs. First, both systems sounded great but there were tradeoffs probably because the speakers are different. The Clearwave's use accuton ceramic drivers vs the RAAL/bamboo/paper drivers in the Salk. With the Clearwaves and RELs the bass was more detailed, tighter, more accurate. I preferred the RAAL in the Salks to the ceramic tweeter but not by a huge margin. The RAAL just gets an airier presentation I prefer. Overall, I thought the Clearwave/REL system was more detailed, more accurate, and had better bass. However, I never tried the Salks with the pair of RELs, but I was pretty pleased with the Duet 6/REL combo and while I've moved on to Cube Nenuphars, I wasn't feeling like bringing the Salks back to replace the Duet 6/REL combo.